The Allahabad High Court on Wednesday directed that a petition demanding a time-bound investigation by the Anti-Terrorist Squad into blasts that took place in Varanasi between 2005 and 2010 be listed from the next date as a public interest litigation (PIL).

The petition, filed by Rakesh Srivastava “Nyayik”, an activist from Varanasi, in January 2011, was so far being heard as a criminal miscellaneous writ petition. A division bench of Justices Amar Saran and Dinesh Gupta passed the order.

Counsel for the petitioner Ashish Gupta said: “The court has directed that the petition be next listed as a PIL.” The court was of the view that the issues raised in the petition involved public interest, he added. The matter will come up for hearing next week.

The petition also sought directions from the court to the ATS for submitting the latest status of the investigation into the Dashashwamedha ghat blast, Shramjeevi Express blast, two blasts at Sankat Mochan and Cantt Railway station, blast in court campus and Sheetla Ghat blast case.